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Paleotrail race photo

Paleotrail

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Paleotrail race photoSaint-Césaire
FR
FrenchCobber, CC BY-SA 3.0FrenchCobber, CC BY-SA 3.0
Race date in 63 days
Dec 12, 2026 Sat
City · Distance
Saint-Césaire · 25km · 15km · 12.5km +1 more events
Entry fee
€11From the 2025 edition
Status
SoonTBD ~ Fri, December 11, 2026See how to enter ↗
Official website ↗
Instagram
D-day as of Oct 10, 2026
Paleotrail race photo
FrenchCobber, CC BY-SA 3.0
Paleotrail race photo
FrenchCobber, CC BY-SA 3.0
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About Paleotrail — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

This trail festival runs through the Paléosite area of Saint-Césaire, famous as the site where Neanderthal fossils were discovered.

The three-day programme includes a 42 km marathon with 950 m of elevation gain, an 8 km night race and canicross.

True to its name, “prehistoric trail,” the archaeological site serves as the base camp.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Paleotrail runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2
Eric MahlerRan in 2016 · Finish time 1:40:42
“In short, it was a really wonderful run.”

The runner took part in the 14 km trail at Saint-Cézaire. The runner encountered congestion on slippery climbs and narrow forest paths, crossed a variety of surfaces and enjoyed hot soup after finishing.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

En résumé court, ce fut une très belle sortie...

Read the original on Amicale MACIF des Coureurs de Fond
Alexandre MartinFinish time 3h45'26''
“This time I made a short trip to Charente-Maritime to test myself over a longer distance.”

Alexandre Martin finished sixth in the 40 km Paléotrail in Saint-Césaire in 3 hours 45 minutes 26 seconds. The longer distance suited his steady running rhythm better, but the hard effort also left him in pain at the finish.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Cette fois, une petite virée en Charente Maritime pour aller se tester sur du long.

Read the original on Ploemeur Triathlon club blog

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Finisher vlog

Yannick GONZALES : Traileur Speaker Sonorisateur · Finisher vlog

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter Paleotrail — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2025 edition

We'll fill this in once the official entry rules are out.

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Paleotrail course map and elevation

Your 25km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2025 edition
Runners start · local timeFrom 07:00
EventStart
Marathon42.195km07:00
Trail08:30
City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START

Saint-Césaire village hall / near the Paléosite

Show more

The Paléotrail in Saint-Césaire takes place around the Paléosite archaeological exhibition centre, famous as the site where Neanderthal fossils were discovered.

The headline 42 km marathon course climbs and descends approximately 950 m through the hills and forest tracks of inland Charente-Maritime,

while the 25 km trail has 600 m and the 15 km trail has 400 m of elevation gain.

The programme also includes a short 8 km course with 185 m of elevation gain and a 7 km canicross course open to runners accompanied by their dogs.

The start and finish areas are set up near the Saint-Césaire village hall (Salle des Fêtes) and the Paléosite.

Typical race-season temperature: around 6°C (43°F)
Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Medical support

Aid stations

Where and when to collect your Paleotrail race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Information about Packet Pickup has not been announced yet.
For small French trail races, race-day pickup is generally standard; check the official registration page for details.

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startNo train station in Saint-Césaire (17770) itself; nearest mainline station is Gare de Saintes (~20km away)
  • Transit cardSaint-Cesaire is a small rural commune served only by limited BUSS network rural and school bus lines…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No train station in Saint-Césaire (17770) itself; nearest mainline station is Gare de Saintes (~20km away)

Start/finish is based at the Paléosite, Route de la Montée Verte, 17770 Saint-Césaire. Rural Charente-Maritime trail event — car access is effectively required.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same as start — Paléosite / Salle des Fêtes, Saint-Césaire.

No public transit directly serves this rural venue.

Map

Transit card

Saint-Cesaire is a small rural commune served only by limited BUSS network rural and school bus lines (for example line L13 toward Saintes), with no metro-style transit card system in place. A car is the practical way for visitors to reach the venue.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The location where you receive bib varies depending on the event you participate in and the day you visit.

Pick it up on Fridays at the Run Aventure store in the Hyper U shopping center in Sainte.

The address is 70 Cour du Marechal-Leclerc.

If you plan to stay in Saintes first and then move to Saint-Ésaire, you can add this pickup window to your route.

Saturday Canicross participants go to Paleosite, while Kids Run and Night Trail participants go to the village hall next to Saint-Ezaire City Hall.

The pick-up location on Sundays is also at the same village hall, and the address is 6 Rue du Main.

Since the night race pick-up counter and the Canicross counter are not in the same place,

it is a good idea to save the branch that matches your participation category on the map.

The Sunday window opens early in the morning, but pickup must be completed before your departure time,

even within the entire operating section of the official guide.

The official application page clearly states that it is mandatory to bring a personal eco-cup.

Bring the reusable cup to be used for resupply with bib and go to the event venue.

Times are local to Saint-Césaire. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Bordeaux Saint-Émilion Half-Day Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour

₩136,927

View on Klook

Hotels near the Paleotrail start line in Saint-Césaire

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

La Rochelle: Guided Walking Tour of the "Fortresses of the Atlantic Wall"

₩58,266

View on GetYourGuide

Where runners eat in Saint-Césaire

Eating well is part of the trip

View all →

A meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.

Bordeaux Saint-Émilion Half-Day Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour

₩136,927

View on Klook

Médoc Afternoon Wine Tour (Aperitif Platter Included / from Bordeaux)

₩152,295

View on Klook

Saint-Émilion Afternoon Wine Tour (from Bordeaux)

₩152,295

View on Klook

Saint-Émilion Village & Winery Tour (Lunch Included / Departure from Bordeaux)

₩260,041

View on Klook

What to see in Saint-Césaire after the race

Seeing Saint-Césaire with the medal on

View all →

The city you ran — this time, a little slower.

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Saint-Césaire.

Total cost and budget for Paleotrail

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about Paleotrail

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Saint-Césaire runners' room

Frequently asked questions about Paleotrail

FAQ
When does Paleotrail 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sat, December 12, 2026 in Saint-Césaire, France.

What distances does Paleotrail 2026 offer?

Marathon · 5K · Trail. (From the 2025 edition)

What time does Paleotrail 2026 start?

The race starts at 07:00. (From the 2025 edition)

Where does Paleotrail 2026 start?

Saint-Césaire village hall / near the Paléosite. (From the 2025 edition)

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